Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Asteraceae

Genus:

Helianthus

Species:

Helianthus paradoxus

USDA Symbol:

HEPA2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Annual

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

200 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

jun,jul,aug,sep,oct

Bloom Colors:

yellow

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:

★★★★★ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, bees, butterflies

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

saline, wet, poorly-drained soil

pH:

6.5 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

often found in saline marshes and wetlands

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Germination Time:

7–21 days

Notes:

Seeds germinate readily after cold stratification; light may enhance germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI